The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Written by Ewan MacColl.

Released on the 1972 album And I Love You So.
Available on CD digitally remastered on the album re-issue, and it had been on the collection Sassy Bassey.

The composer Ewan MacColl was a Scotish folk singer. I don't know if he has also performed this song, but it exists a later recording with his wife performing the vocals (Peggy Seeger, half-sister to Pete Seeger).

From 1966 the song had been released by several artists, for example two different recordings by Marianne Faithfull in 1966, and Bert Jansch also released the song 1966.
Roberta Flack had her recording of the song on her first album "First Take" 1969. Her first two albums produced no hit singles, but 1972 Flack's recording was part of the soundtrack of Clint Eastwood's film "Play Misty for Me". The single now zoomed to number one and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year's biggest hit.
 

Lyrics:

The first time

Ever I saw your face

I thought the sun

Rose in your eyes

And the moon and the stars

Were the gifts you gave

To the dark

And the empty skies
My Love

To the dark

And the endless skies

The first time

Ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth

Move in my hands

Like the trembling heart

Of a captive bird

That was there

At my command
My Love

That was there

At my command

The first time

Ever I lay with you

I felt your heart

So close to mine

And I knew our joy

Would fill the earth

And last

Till the end of time
My love

And would last

Till the end of time

The first time

Ever I saw
Your face
Your face
Your face
Your face

(transcribed by Roman <scribbler@gmx.net>)